Profit or nonprofit?

I have always carried a distinctive mental image of organizations known as nonprofits. In my limited world view they bring to mind thoughts of the film “Boy’s Town” with Spencer Tracy, who played Father Flanagan, and Father Damien, who worked with lepers on the north side of Molokai until he contracted and died of that disease.

For those without recent knowledge of such dated references there is the Awake Shelter, Star and The Brother Francis Shelter, to mention just a few, but all contributing greatly in their own way toward helping others in need. I personally have never known anyone who was active in nonprofit organizations; that blissful ignorance is forever gone.

My mental impression has been altered, the misty-eyed reminiscence of current and bygone times is colored by the appearance and rumors of partisan and personal benefit, local politics have arrived in my life, enter Marty Metiva.

Metiva is a transplant from the Lower 48 and has amassed experience and created numerous associations through his wife who is the executive director of the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce (a non-profit) and earns $64,000 yearly. Having this relationship and through his other contacts with other nonprofit groups has assisted in making him notable in the race for mayor of Wasilla. The nature of these organizations, which he seems to gravitate toward, appear quite unremarkable until one examines more closely his and the “nonprofit” activities.

For instance, he is known to be associated with at least six such organizations including but not limited to the Mat Su RC&D where he serves as executive director. He earns $51,000 yearly.

The house must get somewhat crowded at times with two directors living in it. The “His and Hers” team earn well over what the average person and I earn. How about you? Current public information shows he owns nothing and everything is in her name, including the Fort Garland properties and a LLC in Chandler, AZ. While I strongly support profit, it is the reason I contribute to, but not benefit financially in anyway from nonprofits.

What happens if he should be elected mayor?

Do these groups have direct access to the mayor’s office, unlike the general public?

Will he step down from any professional association with them?

How does the relationship of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce and the city-funded Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is contracted to GWCC by the city, play out. Cheryl Metiva runs both of those organizations.

Yep, it does get crowded, we will all need numbers just to follow this operation.

Maybe it would be safer to PASS on having Marty Metiva as our next mayor. He reminds me of Vic Vickers, a carpetbagger himself.

Michael Newman

Wasilla